Canucks right wing Derek Dorsett collides with Ducks center Ryan Kesler during the second period. JONATHAN HAYWARD, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

1 of 10

Linesman Jay Sharrers, left, tries to separate Ducks left wing Patrick Maroon (19) and Canucks right wing Zack Kassian (9) during a fight in the second period Monday. JONATHAN HAYWARD, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

VANCOUVER, B.C. – It was bound to happen, and in Game 68 it finally did.

The Ducks couldn’t possibly go through an entire 82-game schedule without losing in regulation by one goal, but they got into the first part of March with no such blemish. Vancouver’s Zack Kassian applied the smudge mark.

Kassian’s goal with 3:59 left in regulation lifted the Canucks to a 2-1 victory over the Pacific Division leaders Monday night at Rogers Arena after the Ducks built a 26-0-7 mark in one-goal games by feeling right at home with playing tight contests all season.

Kassian got a nifty drop pass from Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis on a give-and-go rush up ice and the rugged forward slipped a shot between the pads of Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen.

It was a breakdown that began with James Wisniewski – making his debut with the Ducks after being acquired from Columbus – committing a turnover and defense partner Clayton Stoner vacating the front of the net to play Hamhuis and leaving Kassian alone.

“It’s a crappy feeling,” Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said. “We don’t like to lose at all. They took advantage of a mistake that we made and we didn’t make a lot of them. And they put it in.”

Andersen, who got back in the net after struggling in a loss Friday to Pittsburgh, had to make only 14 saves, but Kassian’s shot is one he felt he should have stopped.

“It was a good pass in the middle there,” Andersen said. “One I got to have. I got a little bit (of it). Maybe do a better job of closing that little gap. It was a tough play. That’s how it is sometimes.”

The Ducks (42-19-7) would fall despite holding a 30-16 shot advantage and generally holding the territorial edge for much of the 60 minutes.

“We’re definitely comfortable playing in them,” Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf said. “Eventually it was going to bite us. You’re not going to win them all. Tonight I was happy with our execution throughout the game.

“We just got to do a better job putting the puck in the net and give Freddie a little support.”

The Canucks finished the win by killing off the final 57.3 seconds as defenseman Alexander Edler was in the box serving a slashing penalty. Andersen was pulled for an extra attacker and a 6-on-4 advantage.

Eddie Lack made 29 saves for the Canucks (38-24-4), who got their second win against the Ducks in five meetings this season. The Ducks attempted 71 shots for the game but had 22 of them blocked and missed the net on 19 tries.

“You can say there’s frustrations,” winger Corey Perry said. “It’s one of those games. You got to sometimes give the goalie a lot of credit on the other side. He played a heck of a game.

“We didn’t give them a whole lot out there. We were shooting the puck. It’s just one of those nights.”

Lack, who is logging all the playing time while Ryan Miller recovers from a knee injury, was working on his second shutout of the season, but the Ducks’ Emerson Etem ruined those plans.

Etem started a decisive shift by keeping Nick Bonino’s clearing attempt in the offensive zone and began to cycle the puck with Nate Thompson and Jiri Sekac. Cam Fowler sent it to Thompson, who fed Etem in front and the winger didn’t miss for a 1-1 tie with 12:20 left in regulation.

For a long while, it seemed as if Bo Horvat’s first-period goal would stand up. Horvat scored his 11th of the season with a quick wrist shot after Vancouver’s Derek Dorsett and Jannik Hansen helped force a turnover by Ducks center Rickard Rakell.

Outside of that, Andersen wasn’t busy as the Ducks were defending well and using their size to control possession. Vancouver went without a shot on goal for 13 minutes, 8 seconds of the second period before Linden Vey forced Andersen to make a save.

Boudreau broke up Getzlaf and Perry for a few shifts against the Penguins and kept them apart to start the game, even going so far as putting Perry on the third line with Rakell and Jiri Sekac to start even though the winger got his 28th goal on Friday.

Perry also has four goals in six games but Boudreau thinks “sometimes you need a different look.” Kyle Palmieri was moved up into the first-line spot alongside Getzlaf, who has now gone scoreless in four games.

“Who’s to say if we move him around, it’s for one shift,” Boudreau said, talking about Perry. “Or sometimes, it’s feel for a coach. You see if he’s going good and then you either play him more, play him less, play him different. Or whatever.

“I know Corey and Ryan, they’re two of the best players in the world. For us to have any success, we’re going to need them playing at their top [level] when the time comes. I’m just trying to find out how to get them there.”

NICE MOVE

Wisniewski will have even more reason to deliver for Ducks general manager Bob Murray on the ice. The longtime executive has already delivered for him.

The defenseman’s equipment wasn’t shipped promptly to Orange County and Wisniewski found himself stuck without it Monday morning, which made playing a question mark even as his bruised foot had healed enough for him to be available.

Murray took care of that himself by having Wisniewski’s knee brace and skates rerouted to his home and then bringing them up on an afternoon flight. It allowed Wisniewski to make his first appearance for the Ducks.

Breaking in new shoulder pads, shin pads and skates for the morning skate wasn’t an issue but Wisniewski did not feel comfortable using an unfamiliar brace. Playing without something of importance that he's grown attached to wasn’t much of an option.

“I’ve had three ACL reconstructions on my right knee,” Wisniewski said. “I don't go out there without a knee brace on. I don't even take that chance. I don't even know what it feels like to skate without one.”

The delivery issues started when he had the Blue Jackets ship his equipment as he was still in recovery mode. Wisniewski, who arrived in Anaheim on Wednesday, said that problems began Thursday when shipments out of Memphis were delayed because of bad weather.

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.